The Pebble smart watch has received an official update to its iOS app, bringing proper push notifications for emails and fixing compatibility for AOL and iCloud email accounts. Official support for email notifications had been introduced earlier this month, but with access limited to fetching on 15-minute intervals.

The app officially launched alongside the smart watch in January, with the device originally gaining notice for raising over $10 million in funding on Kickstarter. Access to the SDK for the device was given to developers in April.

Apple has been highly rumored to be working on a smart watch of its own to potentially launch next year, with a number of other major technology companies also working on their own projects.

It's interesting. I got one of the kickstarter models and I love it. Put my phone in my backpack pocket, walking I can see my runkeeper details, change tracks and answer calls all without having to stop get my phone from my bag. Useful at the gym too for changing tracks and timers etc.

I've got a Kickstarter edition as well and love it. Love wearing a watch again. Love the notifications on my wrist without pulling my phone out. Love being able to skip songs playing on my iPhone. Hey, I'll buy the Apple watch when it comes out as well. But waiting for that is like not buying a cell phone until Apple makes one. I've got the best smart watch on the market today. If Apple tops it, I'll buy that.

By the way, I get tons of compliments from men and women just on the looks. They freak when they see it interacts with my phone. To each his/her own but I'm a happy backer.

I don't get this either. What good is it if it has to be within Bluetooth distance of the phone? Just look at the phone!

Now if you didn't need the phone...then it might make sense...

To each his own though...

Not quite true. Many of us bought it for situations described by the poster I quote below. I bought it so I could drop my phone in my jersey pocket while on a bike ride, and track my progress, any incoming calls, emails and texts while riding, without having to stop and pull out the phone. But it didn't quite measure up, as I state in my response below...

It's interesting. I got one of the kickstarter models and I love it. Put my phone in my backpack pocket, walking I can see my runkeeper details, change tracks and answer calls all without having to stop get my phone from my bag. Useful at the gym too for changing tracks and timers etc.

May not be useful for you, but I really like it.

I, too bought a Pebble on Kickstarter for some of the same reasons you mention. Specifically to use while riding my bike (Think 40 miles at 18 miles per hour, not a ride in the park). But, aside from delivering the product way, way later than originally promised, they were way too slow getting the SDK out, and the device was far too buggy for far too long after it's introduction. Consequently, to this day there still isn't integration with my fitness app of choice, and the most popular fitness app in the App Store, MapMyxxx. And when I tried to use it with the bicycling version of runkeeper it was so buggy that every time I received a text or notification from another app it would crater the Pebble, and I couldn't track my ride from the watch anymore. For me, it's basically been a dumb sports watch that cost $115, and needs to be charged at least once a week. What makes me sad about all of this is that I really had high hopes for it when I opted in.

Having said that, I will step back and take another look tomorrow, when I go on a hike. I admit that I haven't even tried to use it for a couple of months now, and I know they've issued a couple of updates. But my first, second, third and fourth impressions of the device have been meh, at best.

I don't get this either. What good is it if it has to be within Bluetooth distance of the phone? Just look at the phone!

Firstly, you are missing the point of having such a device. You would also need to use Bluetooth as this is the most efficient and universal [non-wifi] form of connectivity. Wifi is a not an option as you would need to be in range of and logged onto a network which is no good when cycling, driving, walking down the street etc.

Now if you didn't need the phone...then it might make sense...

If it were a phone, then can I assume that you are expecting the miniaturisation of the iPhone...? This is not a reality [yet..].

They already make limited function smart / phone watches. The point of a watch like this, is to allow partial function of the more functional host device is serves.

I've worn mine for about a month now. It has a surprising impact and I wouldn't be without it.

I no longer fish my phone out of pocket, click it, glance at it, click it off, and drop it back into my pocket. Ever. I can't miss a text or a call, so I no longer think that I might have done. It is surprising how fast the tyranny of connection has built up and what an impact it is to be free of it.

I no longer sit at the bar and get my phone out when receiving a random text, interrupting my conversation. I glance down, and glance back.

Best of all? For the first time in years, I have something a little new. Remember when everyone had a different phone, and we'd sit and debate their relative merits, and every so often someone would have a really whacky one that would make you want to look and ask questions? No longer the case, ever. It is great to be in at the beginning of something new.

The Pebble crew are in there right at the start and good luck to them. Sure, the big boys will come in, and who knows where the market goes, but for now, if I was a betting man, I would place money on smart watches as the coolest and most culturally acceptable way of easing our ties to the handset.

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